General

Australia is bracing for dangerous fire conditions on Friday as heatwaves are set to affect most of the country. All states and territories, except Queensland, have been placed under severe to extreme heatwave warnings, with high temperatures expected to last for several days. Victoria has announced a total fire ban for Friday, designating the fire danger rating as “catastrophic,” which is the highest possible level. As a result, around 450 schools and childcare centers will be closed. A meteorologist informed the BBC that the mix of heatwaves and increased fire risk could lead to conditions not seen since the destructive Black Summer bushfires. On Thursday, firefighters were active in Victoria and New South Wales (NSW), where a large fire near Wodonga required the assistance of a dozen water-dropping planes, according to ABC reports. Melbourne recorded its hottest day in six years on Wednesday, reaching 40.9°C (105.6°F), while some coastal areas in Western Australia recorded temperatures as high as 49°C. In NSW, the heatwave is expected to peak on Saturday, with Sydney anticipating a high of 42°C, while regions in South Australia and Western Australia are also likely to exceed 40°C in the following days. Angus Hines from the Bureau of Meteorology stated that Friday would mark the “real peak” of this heatwave, making it an extremely hot day for nearly all of South Australia, Victoria, most of New South Wales, and parts of Tasmania.